EXAMINING COMMUNICATION PATTERNS OF GROUP DISCUSSIONS IN AN ONLINE ENVIRONMENT BY DISCOURSE ANALYSIS

In this study, computer mediated discourse analysis was used in order to investigate what kinds of communication patterns that students show in an online learning environment. The sample was consisted of 45 students participated in an online discussion forum. After a two-week implementation period, group 3, which was considered as the most active group, was selected out of 6 groups. Messages were categorized according to their topics and focuses in order to determine how group members interacted to complete the task and what the levels of the group's decision making process were. Later, the messages were grouped tinder the specific categories according to their functions and the communication patterns reflecting these categories were analyzed. As a result, it was found out that most of the discussions were related to the task; but, the members of the group did not do any research about the topics. Instead, they used their own knowledge and experience in the discussions. Similarly, it was stated that although the participants completed knowledge sharing process, they didn't experience knowledge creation process. In addition, it was found that all the group members were participated in the discussions and communicated with each other with reciprocal respect.